Chapter 1136: Touch Your Heart

I'll become the Emperor of the Divine Ruins?

Ye Guan chuckled. "Lady Fan, you're really painting a big picture here."

As he spoke, he glanced at the throne beneath him and smiled. "This throne of yours from the Divine Ruins Empire is quite comfortable to sit on."

Fan Zhaodi smiled faintly, "You can keep sitting on it."

Ye Guan's smile gradually faded as he stared at her. "Lady Fan, are you insulting my intelligence, or are you insulting yours? Become the Emperor of your Divine Ruins? Why don't you just call me your father instead?"

Fan Zhaodi's eyes narrowed, and an invisible pressure engulfed Ye Guan. Almost simultaneously, Ye Guan's sword shot out of its sheath.

Order Sword!

However, the sword came to an abrupt halt just half an inch away from Fan Zhaodi's forehead. Fan Zhaodi had caught it between her two fingers.

Raising her left hand lightly, Fan Zhaodi pressed down.

Boom!

An immense, crushing pressure reminiscent of a million mountains bored down on Ye Guan. He started gasping for breath and almost collapsed to the ground. The pressure was so strong that even his Order Sword was suppressed.

Fan Zhaodi withdrew her hand, and the pressure on Ye Guan dissipated like a receding tide.

"Young Master Ye, you're educated. Educated people should be civil, and only those who are civil are respected," said Fan Zhaodi.

Ye Guan smirked. "Lady Fan, I don't know whether you or Clan Leader Jing is stronger, but in my heart, you two are on the same level of strength.

"Clan Leader Jing's forces have been hunting down, and we've always been enemies, but I've always respected her. In my opinion, battles can arise from differing beliefs, with no absolute right or wrong."

"But you..." Ye Guan's tone turned cold. "Your actions make it hard for me to respect you, let alone sit down and have a good conversation with you. Besides, I followed you here, yet you've shown no sincerity—only schemes.

"You even said I could become the Emperor of the Divine Ruins. Touch your heart and tell me—do you really believe that?"

Fan Zhaodi stared at Ye Guan without speaking.

"It's clear that you want to unify the Divine Ruins and become its ruler. But frankly, people like you? Forget the former experts of the Divine Ruins—even an outsider like me looks down on you," Ye Guan said sternly.

Fan Zhaodi's eyes turned icy. "I don't need your approval. Besides, you're not qualified to look down on me. Your family is the only reason you made it this far. Without them, do you really think you'd be here?"

Ye Guan smiled faintly. "I've never claimed otherwise. But what can I do? Did I get to choose how I was born? If you're capable, then go and tell my father not to have me in the first place."

Fan Zhaodi squinted. "You're trying to play dirty, aren't you?"

Ye Guan chuckled. "Lady Fan, since we obviously look down on each other, how about this? Let Yian and Yi Nian go, and we'll mind our own business."

Fan Zhaodi revealed a radiant smile. "You wish."

Ye Guan's smile faded away.

"Young Master Ye, since you prefer to be direct, then I will be direct. For certain reasons, none of us, supreme beings, can act personally here. However, those below us can make a move. I brought you here for two reasons—first of all, I want you to represent my Imperial City and help me contend for the Supreme Law Heart as well as the Otherworld God Heart."

Ye Guan stared at her. "And if I refuse?"

Fan Zhaodi walked closer to him, and her lips curved into a smirk. "Then call your family now. If you don't, I won't return Yang Yian and Yi Nian to you."

Ye Guan locked eyes with her. "Are you so sure I won't call them?"

Fan Zhaodi smiled confidently. "Before, I won't dare gamble on it, but now? I'm certain. After all, relying on your family at the first sign of trouble isn't what you want to do, is it?"

Ye Guan remained silent.

𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"There's no need for us to clash. At this moment, we're better off working together. Besides, the Multiverse Emperor and the Temporal Dao Hall are now heading to the Iron God Clan, and they are targeting you.

"Frankly, you're too weak to contend with even one of them—let alone three forces working together."

Ye Guan coldly replied, "Isn't that part of your plan?"

Fan Zhaodi shook her head. "You give me too much credit. The Temporal Dao Hall opposes you because you disrupted their timeline and broke their rules.

"On top of that, they want to curry favor with the Multiverse Emperor. And as for him, he views you as an obstacle. What does that have to do with me? Don't pin everything on me."

Ye Guan stayed silent.

Fan Zhaodi continued, "The reason I called you here is to propose a collaboration. Plus, there's something here that can help you perfect your Order."

Ye Guan cast a doubtful gaze at her.

"The Supreme Law," said Fan Zhaodi. "The founding ancestor of the Divine Ruins Empire built his rule on Order, similar to what you're trying to do. However, unlike your Guanxuan Universe, where people follow laws at will, his laws were mandatory.

"To draw strength from his laws, one had to follow them. In essence, his laws became a source of power. Those who obeyed them grew stronger."

Ye Guan froze in thought.

"Those who gain strength through your laws will have even greater faith in you. Their loyalty will be genuine, as they'll benefit from it. You won't need to enforce anything—they'll willingly uphold the Guanxuan Laws in exchange for power."

Ye Guan was tempted. Fan Zhaodi struck the nail on the head. His greatest challenge was how to get people in the Guanxuan Universe to follow his laws willingly. If those laws could be cultivated, they would flock to follow him.

Fan Zhaodi smiled in the face of Ye Guan's hesitation. "This benefits both the Guanxuan Universe and you. Their belief will grow purer, and your strength will rise as well. It's like billions of beings are helping you cultivate."

Ye Guan asked, "Has there been a precedence?"

"Of course. Why else do you think everyone is hunting for the fragments of the Supreme Law? If it weren't for that internal strife and the shattering of the Supreme Law Seal, the empire wouldn't be in such chaos."

"You'll need a vessel to contain the Guanxuan Laws, and only one artifact can do that—the Supreme Law Seal."

Ye Guan frowned. "The Supreme Law Seal?"

Fan Zhaodi nodded.

"Didn't you just say that it was shattered?"

"What is broken can be reforged," replied Fan Zhaodi.

Ye Guan stayed quiet.

Fan Zhaodi stared at Ye Guan and said, "If you can truly accomplish that, then your words will be the law, and your actions will be the Dao."

Ye Guan looked at Fan Zhaodi. "Some of the fragments must be in the hands of the three major forces, am I right?"

"That's correct."

"Don't we have to deal with those three forces, then?"

"Of course, do you really think that there's free lunch in this world?"

Ye Guan remained silent.

Fan Zhaodi smiled. "Young Master Ye, I genuinely want to work with you. Rest assured, I keep my word. If we work together, not only will I return Yang Yian and Yi Nian to you, but I will also give you the Supreme Law Seal.

"I will also do my best to help you become even stronger. I will help you take your strength to the next level. You don't need to answer me right away—take your time thinking about it. By the way, you're free to leave anytime."

With that, Fan Zhaodi turned around and walked away.

Ye Guan watched her departing figure and murmured, "Her motives definitely aren't that simple."

Little Pagoda chimed in,

"There's certainly some hidden agenda. However, her suggestion to turn the Guanxuan Laws into something that people can cultivate does suit you. By doing so, the beings of the Guanxuan Universe will willingly abide by the Guanxuan Laws.

"I can't say that everyone will do, but at least ninety percent will."

Ye Guan nodded.

"Indeed."

"Now the question is—are you going to work with her?"

Ye Guan slowly closed his eyes.

"Master Pagoda, it's already too late."

Little Pagoda asked,

"What do you mean?"

Ye Guan spoke softly,

"I'm sure those three forces learned that I was here the moment I arrived. In other words, they already consider me a part of the Imperial Faction. I'll be immediately attacked on all sides; the Multiverse Emperor and the Temporal Dao Hall will surely attack me as well.

"That's why she told me I that can leave anytime I wish. Other than calling for help, I have only one path left—to work with her. Plus, with Yang Yian and Yi Nian in her hands... she has already erased my escape routes unbeknownst to me."

Ye Guan's eyes narrowed.

"I feel like that blacksmith and that heretic from Otherworld City were both working for her..."